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Gotay's Mets career nearing an end

Gotay's Mets career nearing an end

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By Anthony DiComo
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MLB.com |

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Mets have placed infielder Ruben Gotay on outright waivers, a person familiar with the situation confirmed on Thursday, creating the possibility that his Mets career has ended.

If any team chooses to claim Gotay before the waiver period ends, that club will then assume his rights and current contract. If not, then Gotay will have the option to either accept a Minor League assignment or become a free agent.

"I thought I did a good job last year," Gotay told multiple news outlets, including the New York Post and Daily News, on Thursday morning. "I didn't deserve this."

Gotay, 25, hit .295 in 190 at-bats with the Mets last season, playing backup to Jose Valentin and then to Luis Castillo at second base. The Mets squelched his chance at a starting job last July, when they traded for Castillo, a superior defensive second baseman. Certainly, Gotay's offense has rarely been in question -- he hit .318 against right-handers in particular -- but that was never enough to earn him regular playing time.

Slowed by a right ankle sprain for much of this spring, Gotay hit .235 with one home run in 17 Grapefruit League at-bats. His inability to hit left-handers with any consistency, however, conspired with a lack of open bench spots made him expendable. The Mets have made it clear that they would prefer their final bench spot go to someone -- namely Brady Clark or Fernando Tatis -- who can excel against left-handed pitching.

Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.